Separable depth selection drive train



July 19, 1966 R. D. J. PROCTOR ETAL 3,262,089

SEPARABLE DEPTH SELECTION DRIVE TRAIN Filed March 26, 1964 IN VE N TORS Richard D. J Procror Scmue\ S. Bollard United States Patent 3,262,089 SEPARABLE DEPTH SELECTION DRIVE TRAIN Richard D. J. Proctor, Nashua, and Samuel S. Ballard, Hollis, N.H., assignors to Sanders Associates, Inc., Nashua, N.H., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 26, 1964, Ser. No. 354,943 11 Claims. (Cl. 340-2) This invention relates to a positive acting separable mechanical drive train.

More specifically, this invention relates to a positive acting separable drive train for a depth selection mechanism housed internally in a sphere shaped sonobuoy. Advances made in the packaging of electronic instruments for use in the study of the ocean and the objects beneath the ocean has resulted in the creation of a new sonobuoy that takes the shape of a very small sphere; the sphere having a diameter of less than five inches in diameter. Housed within this small sphere is a powerful transmitter and one or more hydrophones which are to be lowered into the depths of the ocean upon water impact, which impact follows the launching of the sonobuoy from a high speed aircraft.

Present-day sonobuoys must have the built-in capacity to lower the buoys hydrophones to varying predetermined depths in the ocean. This selection of depths is made prior to launch and because of the need to make quick changes, the set-tings are made externally of the buoys housings. This requires that there be provided a depth selection drive train that extends from the depth selection mechanism to the external surface of the sphere shaped buoy. In the buoys of the prior art, this depth selection function required that the buoys be dismantled. The drive train embodying the invention to be described hereafter completely overcomes this problem.

The spherical shape of the buoy noted above must be maintained intact for the important purpose of utilizing the spherical shape to allow automatic launching of the buoy from the aircraft. This automatic launching is enhanced by the sphere shaped buoys capacity to roll freely in any direction. The drive train of the instant invention in no way disturbs the spherical shape of the buoy while simultaneously providing the buoy with a separable drive train which gives the buoy the dual capability of allowing the buoy to be quickly dismantled for test purposes and also have the depth selection drive train separate upon waterimpact when the hydrophones and depth selection mechanism are ejected from the buoy into the ocean.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a simple and efficient positive action drive train.

Another object of this invention is to provide a sonobuoy depths election driVe train having the capabilities of maintaining a positive drive linkage until water impact where the drive train automatically separates.

Another object of this invention is to provide a com pact sonobuoy drive train that may be easily assembled and disassembled without permanently disturbing the spherical integrity of the sonobuoy.

For a better understanding of the present invention together with other and further objects thereof, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional cutaway section of a spherical sonobuoy embodying the invention;

FIG. 1a is a schematic showing of a sonobuoy embodying the invetnion in a water environment;

FIG. 2 is a schematic showing of a drive train embodying the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a drive train embodying the invention in a separated or released condition.

3,252,89 Patented July 19, 1965 Reference is now made to FIG. 1 where there is illustrated a three-dimensional schematic representation of a sonobuoy embodying the invention to be described hereafter.

The spherical sonobuoy 11, as illustrated in FIG. 1, has an upper shell 12. At the uppermost portion of the upper shell 12, there is an upper surface 13 which has passing through the center thereof a central cavity cup 14 which has been sealed at the junction of the upper surface 13 and the central cavity cup 14 by an O-ring seal 16. This O-ring seal 16 prevents the passage of moisture into the internal portion of the sphere shaped buoy 11 in which the electronic transmitter gear is pack- 'ilqgl The electronic transmitting gear is not shown in Directly above the upper shell 12, there is a stabilizing cap 17 shown positioned preparator to being pressed down upon the upper surface 13 of the upper shell 12.

The stabilizing cap 17 has stabilizing ribs 18 formed thereon. These stabilizing ribs 18 provide some in-flight aerodynamic stability, but they also function to control the attitude of the sphere shaped buoy 11 once the buoy has entered the water, the most desirable atttitude being that position at which the bottom of the buoy receives the hydraulic forces presented by the water as the buoy passes through the first few feet of the oceans surface. This has been described in detail in a co-pending application of Everett W. Farmer, filed March 26, 1964, Serial No. 354,944.

The stabilizing cap 17 has at its center a downwardly projecting central portion 19 which is terminated by a male drive element 22 whose function will be more fully described hereafter. There is also a central cap bore opening 21 which passes entirely through the stabilizing cap 17 and the male drive element 22. The downwardly projecting central portion 19 has a slot 27 that passes halfway through the downwardly projecting central portion and at right angles to the central cap bore opening 21.

Pictured directly above the central bore opening 21, preparatory to its insertion in this bore 21, is a retaining member 23 that has at its middle a cam face 24. At the base of the cam face 24, there is a threaded portion 26 that, when the stabilizing cap 17 is aflixed to the upper surface 13, will mechanically engage a threaded opening 38 of an intermediate drive member 37 whose function and cooperation with the remaining structure will be explained hereafter.

Illustrated to the right of the slot 27 is a resilient locking member 28 having a C-shape and terminating at two gripping faces 29 and 31. When the resilient locking member 28 has been inserted in the slot 27, these gripping faces 29 and 31 occupy a portion of the cap bore opening 21 and cooperates with the retaining member 23 and its related cam face 24 in a manner to be described hereafter. Integrally affixed to the stabilizing cap 17 is an arcuate spring member 32 which, when the cap 17 has been placed in position on the upper surface 13 of the upper shell 12, this arcuate spring member 32 will be flexed against the central cavity cups upper surface 33 and provide a spring loading to the stabilizing cap 17 which will tend to push the cap 17 upward in the event that any restraining force on the cap 17 is removed. In actual usage, there are two such arcuate springs on the cap 17; in this figure, only one has been shown. The central cavity cups upper surface 33 has disposed at its center a raised central portion 34 which has passing therethrough a central opening 36. Directly beneath the central opening 36, there is an intermediate drive member 37 which has on its upper surface a grooved drive slot 39 which will cooperate with the male drive element 22 to permit rotary motion to be translated from the cap 17 to the intermediate drive member 37. At the base of the intermediate drive member 37, there is a peripheral flange 41 which acts to support a spring 42 which is depicted in this figure in a compressed condition with a portion of the spring 42 resting upon the top wall 4-3 of the central cavity cup 14. Within the intermediate drive member 37 is a depth selector drive slot 44 into which is received a male depth selector drive member 46. Entirely surrounding the spring 42 is a cylindrical flange sleeve 45. Integrally affixed to the depth selector drive member 46 is a depth selection mechanism 47 here depicted schematically as a cylinder, the precise construction of which is not shown but whose function is to provide a control for the amount of hydrophone suspension wire to be released by the sonobuoy after water impact. The precise details of a depth selection mechanism of the type utilized is described in a co-pending application to Everett W. Farmer, filed March 26, 1964, Serial No. 354,945. This depth selection mechanism 47 is normally movable between one of two positions which control a shallow depth selection or a full suspension cable release to provide maximum penetration of the waters depths by the hydrophones which are normally carried in the central cavity cup 14 but not illustrated in this figure.

On the upper surface 13 of the upper shell 12, there is an antenna erection spring 51 securely fastened at one of its ends to the surface 13. Integrally attached thereon is a coiled antenna 52. which functions in a manner depicted in FIG. 1a. The stabilizing cap 17 has at the periphery passing through the cap 17 a removable detent member 53 whose function is to cooperate with detent position openings 54 and 56 to maintain the cap 17 in either of two positions when the cap 17 has been rotated to a depth selection setting in a manner to be described hereafter.

With reference to FIG. la, there is seen illustrated therein a spherical sonobuoy 11 floating on the ocean after water impact and a moment after the release of its contents. The antenna erection spring 51 and coiled antenna 52 are illustrated as flipping and ejecting the cap 17 free from the upper shell 12 of the spherical sonobuoy 11. Directly beneath the spherical shaped sonobuoy 11 and suspended below by a suspension cable 64 is the depth selection mechanism 47 and a hydrophone 62 which is in turn connected to a weight 63. Floating off to the left towards the bottom of the ocean is a bottom release cap 61 which has released from the bottom of the spherical buoy 11 upon water impact to permit the hydrophone 62 and related mechanisms to pass into the depths of the water.

With reference now again to FIG. 1, it will be seen that on the upper surface 13 of the upper shell 12 there is a test jack 57 whose function is to permit the electronic testing of the transmitting devices housed within the sphere shaped buoy 11 prior to the launching of the buoy from an aircraft. This testing, of course, requires the removal of the cap 17.

Reference is now made to FIG. 2 where there is set forth a schematic representation of the separable drive train and the essential components thereof, the retaining member 23 has been inserted in the central cap bore opening 21 after the stabilizing cap 17 has been pressed down upon the central cavity cups upper surface 33. As the retaining member 23 is inserted in the bore opening 21, the cam face 24 comes into contact with the gripping portions 29 and 31 and cams then outwardly from the central bore opening 21 and into a locking position underneath the central cavity cups upper surface 33. When the retaining member 23 has been completely placed in position and the threaded portion 26 has been rotated into the threaded opening 38, the cap 17 is securely held down upon the upper surface 13 of the spherical buoy 11. There are a number of forces acting on the cap at this time. One such force is designated by the force arrow 66 which represents the combined forces presented by the antenna ejecting spring 51 and the arcuate spring member 32. In order to facilitate the removal of the cap for purposes of testing the electronic equipment housed within the sphere shaped buoy 11, all that need be done is to unscrew the retaining member 23 which will then permit the retaining member 23 to move upwardly through the bore opening 21 and the resilient locking member 28 will move into an unlocked position with the resilient locking member 28 no longer beneath the central cavity cups upper surface 43.

Reference is now made to FIG. 3 in which the schematic drawing shows the separable drive train of this invention in a released condition shortly after Water impact. When the buoy 11 strikes the water and the bottom release cap 61, as shown in FIG. la, separates from the buoy 11, the hydrophone 62 and the depth selection mechanism 47 are forced downwardly and out of the central cavity cup 14 by the spring 42 acting upon the intermediate drive member 37 and in so moving, there is sufficient force present in the spring 42 to overcome the gripping action of the gripping faces 29 and 31 and the entire retaining member 23 passes downwardly and out of the central bore opening 21 and in so doing, allows the resilient locking member 28 to move into the unlocked position. The antenna erection spring 51 and the arcuate spring member 32 then eject the cap 17 from the buoy 11. Simultaneous with the release of the cap 17, the coiled antenna 52 uncoils and springs into an erect position ready to transmit information received from the hydrophone 63.

It is therefore seen that there has been provided a separate drive train which also has the capacity to transmit rotary motion. For example, when the cup is rotated clockwise or counter-clockwise, this rotary motion is transmitted directly to the male drive element 22 which in turn is integrally mated with the grooved opening 39 of the intermediate drive member 37. This rotary motion is likewise transmit-ted to a depth selection mechanism 47 via the coaction of the male depth selection drive member 46 and the depth selector drive slot 44.

While there have been hereinbefore described what are at present considered preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be apparent that many and various changes and modifications may be made with respect to the embodiment illustrated, without departing from the spirit of the invention. It will be understood that all changes and modifications as fall fairly within the scope of the present invention, as defined in the appended claims, are to be considered as part of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A cap release and depth selection separable drive train for a sphere shaped sonobuoys depth selection mechanism comprised of:

(A) a sonobuoy cap to be antenna ejected having a male drive element integral therewith,

(B) said cap having an opening passing through said cap and said male drive element,

(C) a retaining member having a cam face thereon,

(D) a resilient locking means mounted to cooperate with said cap opening whereby the insertion of said retaining member with said cam face into said open ing cams said resilient locking means into a locking position,

(E) a spring biased intermediate drive member secured to said retaining member when said retaining member has been inserted in said cap opening,

(F) said resilient locking means coacting with said sphere shaped sonobuoy when said resilient locking means is in said locking position to thereby secure said cap to said sphere shaped sonobuoy, and

(G) said spring biased intermediate drive member having a portion thereof in driving connection to said depth selection mechanism.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said intermediate drive member is spring biased away from said antenna ejected sonobuoy caps male drive element to thereby permit said retaining member to be pulled through said cap opening to thereby allow said resilient locking means to an unlocked position and thereby release said antenna ejected cap from said sphere shaped sonobuoy.

3. A depth selection control cap release and a separable drive train for a sonobuoys depth selection mechanism comprised of:

(A) a depth selection control cap having a male drive element and an opening passing through said cap and said male drive element,

(B) a retaining member mounted within said opening and cooperating with a locking means mounted partially within said opening to move said locking member into a locking position when said retaining member has been inserted in said opening,

(C) said locking means coacting with said sonobuoy when said locking member is in said locking position to thereby secure said depth selection control cap to said sonobuoy.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said retaining member has a cam face thereon whereby the insertion of said retaining member into said opening cams said locking means into said locking position.

5. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said sonobuoy has a spherical shape and said depth selection control cap has a curved contour to thereby form a sphere shaped sonobuoy when said control cap is mounted on said sonobuoy. v

6. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said sonobuoy is air launched and is provided with a water impact release means for said depth selection mechanism.

7. The combination set forth in claim 6 wherein said retaining member is secured to an intermediate drive member having .a portion thereof in driving connection to said depth selection mechanism.

8. The combination set forth in claim 7 wherein said retaining member is drawn totally through said opening thereby allowing said locking means to move to an unlocked position.

9. The combination set forth in claim 8 wherein said intermediate drive member is spring biased in a direction which urges said retaining member to be drawn through said opening.

10. The combination set forth in claim 9 wherein said depth selection control cap is spring biased away from said sonobuoy but is held in position on said sonobuoy until water impact at which time said locking means moves to an unlocked position and control cap spring bias ejects said cocntrol cap from said sonobuoy.

11. The combination set forth in claim 10 wherein there is mounted a coiled antenna between said control cap and said sonobuoy whereby said control cap ejection frees said coiled antenna to uncoil and thereby provide an uncoiled and erect antenna for said sonobuoy.

No references cited.

LEWIS H. MYERS, Primary Examiner.

CHESTER L. J USTUS, Examiner.

R. A. FARLEY, Assistant Examiner. 

3. A DEPTH SELECTION CONTROL CAP RELEASE AND A SEPARABLE DRIVE TRAIN FOR A SONOBUOY''S DEPTH SELECTION MECHANISM COMPRISED OF: (A) A DEPTH SELECTION CONTROL CAP HAVING A MALE DRIVE ELEMENT AND AN OPENING PASSING THROUGH SAID CAP AND SAID MALE DRIVE ELEMENT, (B) A RETAINING MEMBER MOUNTED WITHIN SAID OPENING AND COOPERATING WITH A LOCKING MEANS MOUNTED PARTIALLY WITHIN SAID OPENING TO MOVE SAID LOCKING MEMBER INTO A LOCKING POSITION WHEN SAID RETAINING MEMBER HAS BEEN INSERTED IN SAID OPENING, (C) SAID LOCKING MEANS COACTING WITH SAID SONOBUOY WHEN SAID LOCKING MEMBER IS IN SAID LOCKING POSITION TO THEREBY SECURE SAID DEPTH SELECTION CONTROL CAP TO SAID SONOBUOY. 